Arrangement for rapid preparation of products that can be encapsulated

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for the rapid preparation of various products that can be encapsulated is proposed, comprising a capsule ( 10 ) which contains a concentrated dose or an exact measure of a suitable given product to be diluted (a) and a container ( 20 ) suitable for receiving an amount of a given dilution product (b). The capsule ( 10 ) is a disposable element having an outlet ( 11 ) provided with detachable closure elements ( 12 ). The container ( 20 ) having a lower opening ( 21 ) with reciprocal connection means ( 22 ) capable of forming a firm airtight bond with the opening ( 11 ) of the capsule ( 10 ) and an top opening ( 23 ) adapted for receiving the dilution product (b) and dispensing the mixture (c) comprising the metered dose (a) and dilution product (b).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national stage entry of PCT/IB2014/060938 filed Apr. 23, 2014, under the International Convention claiming priority over Argentinean Patent Application No. 20130101425 filed Apr. 26, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a novel arrangement for the rapid preparation of products that can be encapsulated, in particular products supplied as liquids, slurries or pastes. The object of the present invention is to obtain different kinds of products comprising a concentrated dose or an exact measurement of a given product and a product which is a dilution of the first product, in the composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The proposed constructive arrangement solves the problem of the exact calculation of the proportion of what will be added to another concentrated product or product which must be diluted. it also simplifies the preparation of some products in which the recipe, the proportions and the necessary ingredients must be known.

Essentially, the object of the present invention comprises, in combination, a capsule which contains the concentrated dose or accurate measurement of a given product and a dispensing container which contains a second given product in which the first product must be diluted. The dispensing container is provided with a first opening adapted to connect with the capsule and a second opening provided with the necessary means to output the processed product.

The present arrangement allows the finished product to be obtained in an economic, practical and simple form, with a high level of reliability of its correct formulation.

The product contained in the capsule can be natural, concentrated or frozen.

The proposed arrangement is used in various fields, namely:

in the food field, for the preparation of: alcoholic cocktails, fruit concentrates for cocktails, fruits, energy drinks, hot and cold drinks, beer, fruit juices, soups, milks and milk products, beverages in general such as “ready to drink”.

In the health field the new arrangement may be used for the preparation of: food supplements, mineral salts integrator, generally integrators, soluble drug and generally soluble products.

In the cleaning field, for the preparation of cleaning agents and detergents, among others.

The dispensing container may have any shape suitable to the product for application in the various fields mentioned, such as in the shape of a plate, cup, bowl, whisk or bowl, in the case of the preparation of ready to drink beverages; in the shape of a baby bottle with the corresponding teat in the case of milk with concentrated additives; and in the shape a bottle-type container with a spray nozzle for the preparation of cleaning products.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be explained in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Considering the above and other related purposes, the invention comprises the construction details and combination of parts as will be understood based on the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a capsule containing a metered product and a dispensing container, showing said separate elements, wherein the capsule is shown closed and wherein the dispensing container is a cup.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view only of the capsule containing a metered product, showing the opening of said capsule, with the closing element in a partly detached position.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 showing the assembled capsule and dispensing container in a position of use, and showing the preparation of the finished product obtained by adding and mixing the dilution product and ice cubes in the container.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view according to FIG. 3, showing the product already mixed and ready for consumption.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an adapter part for connection between different capsules and corresponding dispensing containers.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing the joint between the capsule and the corresponding dispensing container with the insertion of the adapter part according to the embodiment of FIG. 5.

In these figures the same reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts.

LIST OF KEY REFERENCES

-   (a) Concentrated and metered product. -   (b) Dilution product. -   (c) Finished product comprised by the mixture of products (a) and     (b). -   (d) Ice cubes. -   (e) Mixing/beating palette. -   (10) Capsule containing product (a). -   (11) Discharge opening of capsule (10). -   (12) Detachable closure and sealing sheet of the opening (11). -   (12′) Flange for sheet extraction (12). -   (13) “Half thread” type (quick coupling) fastening means of the     opening of capsule (10). -   (20) Dispensing container. -   (21) Lower opening of container (20). -   (22) Lower rim of (20) of connection with the opening of capsule     (10). -   (23) Top opening of container (20). -   (24) “Half thread” type (quick coupling) fastening means of     container (20). -   (25) Annular sealing element (O-ring). -   (30) Adapter part for connection between different capsules (10) and     various dispensing containers (20). -   (31) Body in the shape of a tube segment of part (30). -   (32) Faceted flange for joining of part (30). -   (33) “Half thread” type male joining/locking element of part (30). -   (34) “Half thread” type female joining/locking element of part (30).

MAIN OBJECT

For the specified purpose, an arrangement is provided for the rapid preparation of products that can be encapsulated characterized in that it comprises in combination a capsule (10) which contains a concentrated dose or exact measure to be diluted of a given product (a) and a container (20) suitable for receiving an amount of a given dilution product (b), wherein said capsule (10) has an outlet hole (11) provided with detachable closing means (12), and wherein said container (20) has a bottom opening (21) with reciprocal connection means (22) capable of forming a firm airtight bond with the opening (11) of the capsule (10) and a top opening (23) adapted for receiving the dilution product (b) and dispensing the mixture (c) comprising said metered dose (a) and dilution product (b).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention comprises an arrangement for the rapid preparation of products that can be encapsulated, comprised essentially of a capsule (10) which contains a component part (a) of a finished product (c) to be prepared, and an “ad hoc” dispensing container (20) with means for connecting the capsule (10). The vessel (20) is a container of another part of the component product (b) in which the concentrated part of the product (a) is diluted.

In the embodiment chosen for illustrating the present invention, the component with the exact and definitive measure (a) is a liquid concentrate of a given alcoholic beverage, component (b) is a carbonated beverage which is incorporated in the container (20), which is a glass.

Always according to this example and without limitation, the container or vessel (20) has a bottom opening (21) formed in the wall comprising the bottom of the vessel, having a cylindrical rim (22) with peripheral elements (24) comprising an arrangement of consecutive segmented ribs that form a component part of quick coupling type referred to as “half thread”.

At the top end of the container (20) is formed the opening or mouth (23) of the vessel.

In the present example and without limitation, the capsule (10) is a bowl containing the component with the exact and definitive measure (a) is a liquid or powder concentrate designed to form the bottom of the glass, with a top opening or mouth (11) having an array of consecutive segmented ribs (13) cooperating with the elements (24) of the vessel to form a quick coupling between the two parts for assembly. Preferably said joint is sealed with an O-ring (25) to ensure the closure is airtight.

Each capsule (10) is provided with a dosage of the product (a) and the opening (11) of the capsule has a suitable closure element, preferably a detachable sheet (12) sealed along the perimeter and provided with a flange (12′) for extraction.

The invention provides an accessory part (30) to join different capsules (10) with different dispensing containers (20).

In the preferred embodiment, the part (30) comprises a body (31) in the shape of a tube segment of low height, which has a faceted peripheral shoulder (32) for gripping during the joining with the capsule (10) and the container (20). The body (31) has consecutive segmented peripheral ribs (33) which form a quick coupling type referred to as “half thread”, cooperating with similar elements (13) provided in the opening of the capsule (FIG. 6), also in the opposite end, said body (31) having inner binding elements (34) cooperating with the elements (24) of the bottom of the container.

In the proposed example, particularly with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, once the sheet (12) is removed, the capsule (10) is fixed on to the lower end (24) of the vessel (20), exposing the product (a) at the bottom of the vessel through the opening (21). In this situation, dilution product (b) and other additives, for instance ice cubes (d) can be introduced through the opening of the container. The content is manually stirred With a suitable element such as the blade (e), to mix the products (a) and (b) to obtain the ready to drink finished product (c). 

1. An arrangement for the rapid preparation of encapsulated products comprising in combination a capsule (10) which contains a concentrated dose or an exact measure of a suitable given product to be diluted (a) and a container (20) for receiving an amount of a given dilution product (b), wherein said capsule (10) has an outlet port provided with detachable closure elements, and wherein said container has a bottom opening with reciprocal connection means capable of forming a firm airtight bond with the opening of the capsule and an top opening adapted for entry of the dilution product and dispensing the mixture comprising said metered dose and dilution product.
 2. The arrangement for the rapid preparation of encapsulated products according to claim 1, wherein the outlet port of the capsule is closed by a cover sheet sealed along the perimeter to the edge of said port.
 3. The arrangement for the rapid preparation of encapsulated products according to claim 1, wherein the means for reciprocal connection capable of forming a fixed airtight seal between the lower opening of the container and the opening of the capsule are selected from threads and quick inserts with insertion of annular sealing members.
 4. The arrangement for the rapid preparation of encapsulated products according to claim 1 wherein said means for reciprocal connection capable of forming a fixed airtight seal with the opening of the capsule are selected from threads and quick inserts with insertion of annular sealing members, being formed in an adapter part for different diameters of said capsule and said container. 